Thailand is often imagined in neon nights and island escapes. Yet, step a little away from the usual routes and you’ll find towns where heritage lingers in facades painted in pastel shades, in flavours shaped by Thai kitchens, and in waterfronts that once welcomed travellers from across the seas. These coastal towns carry stories in their architecture, in the morning markets where languages mingle, and in the evening light that falls over lakes and shorelines.

Phuket, Trang and Songkhla show this side of Thailand in their own ways. In one place, the morning might begin with the scent of fresh noodles drifting through the old town and in another, with a boat ride into the Emerald Cave, while elsewhere the day winds down beside the lake. Each place is best savoured at an unhurried pace. Each place is best enjoyed without trying to pack too much into a day.